St. Paul daily globe., 1887-01-13

now reaches $4,000, evidenced by territorial
warrants drawn on the capitol building fund,
put not paid by the treasurer for lack of
funds. These warrants arc an anomaly in
our financial system. They are g constant
menace to our credit and detrimental to our
good name. The people interested in our
securities
PERSIST IN MISUNDERSTANDING
the attitude of the territory, and protests are
received from various quarters against what
is called our Reputation of the territorys
obligations. An old law provides that all
warrants shall be received for taxes, and an
application was made a year ago to have
them taken for this purpose. To test the
case the treasurer, under my direction, re-
fused to so receive them. Suit was brought
anu the district court held that they must be
taken. Under the peculiar circumstances l
directed an appeal. This appeal is still pend
Ing. although l sometime ago requested the
attorney general to dismiss it on condition
tnat no more warrants, except those then
provided for, were issued, and that the COM
mission would resign and pay the accrued
costs. The property belonging to this fund
worth certainly much more than the deot
should be sold and some plan adopted which
viii no longer permit these warrants. bear
ing the Official seal of the territory, TO be
hawked about the country an embarrass-
ment and disgrace TO the people.
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
The report of the superintendent OF public
instruction gives marvellous exhibition of
the growth OF the territory, both in popula-
ton and educational advantages. Tho fol-
lowing table gives a brief summary of the
facts contained in the report. The figures
are those for the year ending June 80. 1876:
Total receipts. -. 81, ,349, ,265 81
expenditures. Observation-Disclosures. ,911,25S IS
Balance on hand d......... 432, 006 SO
Number of children of school age 103, ,3S4
Number of teachers employed. :. 5,055
Number OF schools. ls.............. 1905
Number Of school houses. 3,467
Population to each school, 129
Sitt1ngs in school houses ...... 110,1lI
Value OF permanent school prop
erty. 29S9, ,696 20
COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION.
If any one has supposed this office to be
sineeure, the perusal OF the report will dispel
this idea. The business OF the commissioner
has steadily grown until his Office is now
among the busiest of the territorial officials
Inquiries about Dakota have been received
from nearly every state and territory in the
Union. embracing nearly 5000 separate in
quiries in nineteen months. From -, 900 to
10000 persuns have been supplied with decu-
ments of various kinds. The number Of
miles Of railroad track laid during 1885, as
given by the commission, is 67S, and the total
miles of completed road in the territory,
3,49l: Several hundred miles are graded also.
on which tracklaying will begin in the spring.
BOARD OF AGRICULrUaE.
The board of agriculture has mplished
more than was hoped at its forma ton. 1t
des erves encouragement. Two fairs have
been held at Huron which were surprising in
their completeness and in the success
which attended them. I believe an expert
mental farm under the direction Of this board,
or other competent direction, would be a val
liable help to our agricultural interest We
do not want a scheme to provide places for
N1nf,,
for practical experiments which shall be of
service TO the farmers of the territory.
RAILWAY COdsISSION.
The creation Of the railway commission,
while an experiment, has certainly redounded
to the public benefit. Perhaps the greatest
advantage has accrued from the speedy
settlement of disputes between the people
and the companies, the railways having for
the most part complied very promptly with
the requests of the commission. Cons daring
that the powers of the commission were lin
tied, and that the law itself was very crude
and incomplete, the people have reason to be
encouraged over the results Much yet re-
mains to be done. however. before the full
measure Of usefulness is attained by the
commission. How this shall be realized is a
difficult problem, as the question of transpor-
tation always has been. 1t does seem, how
ever, as if some means ought % be devised
whereby the farmers product could be taken
to market with reasonable promptness, and
at rates which Shall not invite bankruptcy
There has been more than one period IN the
past few years when the more grain farmer
raised the poorer he became.
THIS Is DISASTROUS
to the railroads as well as the farmer, for
their nope, as well as his. lies in agricultural
prosperity. Tue commission make a number
of recommendations looking to the improve
ment OF the law, to which l invite attention.
Those relating to the regulation of elevators
requiring them to be licensed and operated
under bond, so as TO afford the farmer assur-
ance that his grain is safely deposited, and
stamping warehouse receipts with the neces-
sary authority to MAKE them negotiable.
seems reasonable and timely. The railroad
commission should have the confidence of the
people. II from any cause, however slight,
they are without that confidence. their power
for good is greatlf impaired. They should be
under no personal obligations to the roads,
and therefore, while they should have the
privilege of passing over the various lines
without charge they should be prohibited
from soliciting any special privileges in the
way of passes or otherwise. The duty they
have to perform is a delicate one, and the
board should be above the suspicion OF hav-
ing their judgment warped by favors of any
kind whatever.